The Government’s Road Conditions in England Report brings a mixed bag of results with some minor improvements on certain road categories and deteriorating roads elsewhere. Generally the AA believes that a great proportion of motoring taxation should be ring-fenced for road improvements.
The AA are warning classic car owners they could be driving ‘death traps’ after a teacher was killed when his MG “folded like a penknife,” according to The Daily Telegraph. Older vehicles do not have crumple zones and even recent classics like Minis and Ford Capris will come off a lot worse in a collision with the latest models, says the AA.
Modern cars are in danger of being hacked by criminal gangs, motoring experts have warned once again. Possible motivations for hacking are said to include theft of information, extortion and even causing vehicles to crash.
Security vulnerabilities in connected cars and in TPMS/RFID systems have been identified before (see “Automotive suppliers, smart cars, intelligent tyres and safety concerns” in last February’s magazine and “Researchers Hack a Hole in TPMS” in the September 2010 issue of Tyres & Accessories), but now attention is turning to cars fitted with wireless networks and Internet. The fear is that these connections can be exploited by hackers with access and control a car’s systems, including braking and acceleration potentially being overriding remotely, according to security consultants.
The AA has welcomed the latest Department for Transport Think! campaign looking at the dangers of rural roads. Edmund King, AA president, said: “Many drivers, particularly young drivers, are under the miscomprehension that motorways are more dangerous than rural roads.”
From 1st October a paper tax disc no longer needs to be displayed in the windscreen of vehicles. Drivers will still be required to purchase vehicle excise duty (ved) but will no longer receive a small perforated tax disc in exchange for their money.
Edmund King, AA president, said: “Scrapping the tax disc really is a poignant moment in motoring history and the end of an era. That circular disc in the corner of the windscreen has been an intrinsic part of the look of motoring over the last 93 years. In many ways the car windscreen will look naked without a disc.
The cars on Britain’s roads are more likely to be filled with raised voices than happy chatter as thousands drive off to their summer holiday. An AA/Populus survey of 23,085 AA Members found that 65 per cent argue in the car.
The ever-swelling ranks of TyreSafe gathered at St Johns Hotel, Solihull to launch the 2014 edition of Tyre Safety Month. Chairman Stuart Jackson, enthusiastically wielding an enlarged coin, demonstrated the well-established 20p test during his introduction of the “driving rain, driving safe” theme; the test is particularly relevant to this year’s tread depth focused theme of aquaplaning. In 2013 tyre pressure took centre stage, but with 2013-14 being the wettest winter on record, and October usually the wettest month of the year anyway, TyreSafe has chosen to present a core message informing drivers of the importance of tread depth in combating what is arguably the most spectacular and frightening road safety phenomenon – in addition to reinforcing other messages, such as pressure, Jackson adds.
The AA’s flood rescue team, AA Special Operations, is calling for a review of road signage around flooding and warning drivers of the penalties for ignoring them. Since 1 December, the AA has attended around 3,200 flood-stricken vehicles, many of which were the result of drivers wilfully ignoring or misunderstanding road closure signs. Previous research […]
The AA reports that it is the latest motoring organisation to be trialling the use of a 'universal spare wheel'. At the same time the company revealed data relating to spare tyre usage. A survey of 22,827 AA members revealed that close to a fifth (17 per cent) of members do not have a spare wheel in their car. The innovative wheel fits the majority of modern cars with a five-stud wheel. The 17” alloy uses a system of special adaptors of ten different sizes to find the best fit.
The sun is finally shining and summer – if somewhat belatedly – has arrived. Many caravanners are taking to the roads and TyreSafe has issued a reminder not to overlook caravan tyre pressure and tread depth.
Two thirds of UK drivers would be devastated if they lost their car according to figures published as Road Safety Minister Stephen Hammond launched a new THINK! drink-drive campaign to raise awareness of the consequences of a conviction. The survey of nearly 20,000 adults, commissioned by the AA and conducted by Populus, also shows that:
A survey from the AA has found that 30 per cent of motorists have experienced damage to their vehicles due to poor road surfaces. With a third of AA members reporting to have suffered damage to their cars as a result of pothole damage, Matthew Mycock, Autoglass managing director, has commented saying: "Cuts in the road maintenance programme will inevitably mean potholes go unfilled and cracks are left unprepared."
With the recent launch of the ST:01 Neverending Energy line, Pirelli says its ‘01’ commercial vehicle tyre range is now complete. The 01 portfolio now covers the ‘R’ segment (medium to long range), ‘W’ (winter tyres), ‘H’ (long range) and ‘G’ (for mixed road and construction site use).
Terry Gibson has been appointed as the Independent Garage Association's (IGA) Operations Manager to reinforce its member offer with effect from 15 October 2012.
Gibson has worked within the motor industry for most of his working life and will bring these skills and experience to the independents. He has achieved success with the AA as the Head of Technical Support and more recently working with the market-leading supplier of security marking and registration systems for deterring thefts of vehicles.
At June’s Reifen show in Germany Pirelli was first cab off the rank with a market-ready ‘AA’ labelled passenger car tyre. Now the Italian manufacturer has announced the impending launch of its ‘AA’ truck tyre, the ST:01 Neverending Energy. The range has been specifically developed for trailers and semi-trailers and is said to have benefited from testing and work conducted at Pirelli’s research facility in Milan. Developments engineered into the ST:01 include a patent pattern tread pattern and a dual compound tread, also paten pending, with a high silicone content for reducing heat build up. The profile and geometry of the sidewalls and tyre bead are also brand new.
If you would like the latest news from the Chinese tyre industry in Chinese, visit our partner site TyrepressChina.com. Or click below to continue on Tyrepress.